Lubricator for sewing-machine-looper mechanisms.



m. 875mg. PATENTED DBO. 21, 1907 W. N. PARKBS. LUBRIOATOP. FOR SEWING MACHINE LOOPER MECHANISMS. APPLICATION FILED OGT.25,1903. RENEWED NOV-18,1907.

WITNESSES UNITED sTA'rns PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM N. menus, or BROOKLYN, NEW roan.

LUBRICATOR FOR SEWING-MAGHZNE-LObPER MECHANISMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1907'.

' Application file'd October 26; 1903. erial No. 178.630. Renewed November 18, 1907. Serial No. 402,741-

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, WILLIAM N. PARKES, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn,county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement 1 in Lubricators for Sew; .ing-Maohine-Looper Mechanisms, of which the following is a description.

This invention relates to sewing machines of the lock-stitch class, and particularly to lubricators 'for the bobbin-case or holder thereof. 7 v I In certain types of lock-stitch machines the bobbin-case or holder is held from circular movement while the looper is given circular movement, either rotary or oscillatory. In this type of machines the bobbin-case or holder is 1n som'e'manner sup orted. or car connected, form a groove in which a flange formed on the looper runs, as for example in my patent coveringstitch-forming mechanism granted June 9, 1903, and numbered 730,692. As the bobbin-case does not turn with the looper or hook, there is, of course, friction between the case or holder and the looper or hook in the race formed by and between them. Under any speed at which the machine may be run, it becomes desirable to keep this race lubricated and with the high speed now demanded by the trade, it is a very important factor in the production of an easy and rapidly running looper mechanism. It will be obvious that while it is quite important to keep this race oiled or lubricated, it is also very important not to oil the thread and to keep the lubricant away therefrom.

In the \Nillcox & Gibbs high-speed ma.- chine, .there is a ratio in speed of threo-l'cone between the looper and the needle; in the Wheeler & Wilson, 61 high-speed machine, there is a ratio in speed of two-to-one between the looper and the needle; and in my high-speed machine above'mentioncd, there is a ratio in speed of two-to-one between the looper and the needle. Thus, it will be seen that if these machines are run at the rate of 3,000 or more stitches per minute, as they are in, operating upon certain heeler &- l/Vilson and of my machine.

kinds of work, there will be a speed of 9,000, revolutions per minute in .theVVillcox & Gibbs hook and a speed of 6,000 revolutions per .minute in the hook or looper of tip; the bobbin-cases or holders are held from turning with the hooks, it is readily seen that it is im ortant to keep the race, re ferred to, oile or lubricated to prevent heating and wear. Putting oil in this race by squirting it directl therein, or by having an oil well in the ookwhich leads to the race, are objectionable for various reasons, among "which may be mentioned the follow ing: When the race is lubricated from without, much of the oil or other lubricant is lodged on and too much oil reaches thehook, the result being that the oil is thrown off, it overflows on to the parts of the hook or bobbin-case with which the loop of needlethread contacts, thus soiling the thread;

I when an oil well is formed in the hook,.the well is revolved therewith, passing all around the ease, and the result'being that parts of the latter are oiled which should not be, via, those parts over which the loops of needle-thread pass, resulting in oiling and soiling the thread; also when the latter kind of lubricating device is employed, the oil isthrow'n or forced out of the well, or if the well should be closed it would he inconvenient to get the oil into it; furthermore, when the oil is in a well formed in a hook, the centrifugal force, produced b the rapid movement of the 'looper or hoo causes the oil to flow-away from the race at the time when it is most needed therein.

It is an object'of my invention-to overcome all the difficulties above mentioned with respect to the old structures and the old methods for lubricating the race between the loo er and the bobbin-case or holder.

1 is another object of my invention to provide a simple and convenient means whereby a lubricant may be caused to reach the race, to provide an efl'ective means for lubricating said race,'and roduce a lubricating device which is suitable forthe majority of looper mechanisms and which will not have any of the objectionable features above enumerated.

In my loo er mechanism the race is oiled by means 0 a well which is formed in the center of the bobbin-case or holder, a channel leading therefrom to the race, and the front elevation of my looper mechanism hav I mg embodied therein my invention; Fig. 2 is .lubricantto the race; Fig. 4 is an enlarged .pinion 3, to retain the same in commotion the central boss 20. secondary by'rneans of a wick or other device suitable for the purpose. The bobbin-supporting post is utilized for the well and a channel or conduit is extended from the bottom thereof to the race. Means are provided for preventing the escape of oil from the well and to preventlint, dust and other objectionable substances from reaching the lubricant.

With the above objects in view, and others which will appear during the course of this description, my invention consists in the parts, features and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a a vertical central section of the looper mechanism, showing the structure of the lubricating device; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the looper and the bobbin-case, with the inner or secondary hook removed in order to show the channel or conduit for leading the vertical sectional view of the parts of the looper mechanism. detached, but in assembling relation; and Fig. 5 is a vertical sertional view of a portion of the bobbin-case illustrating another form of means for carry ing out my invention.

The driving shaft for the looper mechanism is indicated by dotted lines in .Fig. l; I being the driving shaft, 2 the bevel-gear on the end thereoflwhich meshes with the bevelpinion 3, carried by the looper shalt 4, the upper end of which is provided with the disk 5, through which screws 6, extend into said with the looper shaft. The disk 5, is provided with a lateral flange 7, and a vertical extension 8, forming a seat for the reception of the rim or outer wall 9 of the looper, the. latter being secured to the vertical extension 8, by means ol'screws 10, extending. through apertures 11, in the rim 9, and apertures 12 in the extension 8 thus securing the looper body to the driving disk. The looper is provided with the hook 13, inclined throat 14, and vertical concentric groove 15, the latter being formed between its wall or rim 9, and the Wall '16, depending within the body of the 100 or and, provided with the flange 16 extending laterally into the chamber of the looper and located a distance above the bottom of said chamber.

The bobbin-case is indicated by 17, is pro vided with the central tubular spindle 18, the lateral circular shouldered flange 19, and hook 2], is projected at a right angle to its supporting plate 22, which latter is provided with a cen ral aperture 2&5, for the reception of boss 20, and v' h one or more apertures 24, for the rereption ol' screws 25, which pass theretl'rrough and into apertures 26, in the bottom of the bobbin-caselor the purposeolscc uring l the plate 22 to the bottom of the bobbincase. When the partsare together as shown in Fig. 2, a groove is formed between the bottom of the bobbin-case and the secondary hook-plate 22, forming a race or track for the reception of flange 16 extending laterally from the wall 16 of the looper. This construction sus )ends the bobbin-case above the bottom 0 the looper as shown in Fig. 2. The bobbin-case is provided with a finger or extension 27 which; as usual, engages a stationary device .on the bottom of the throat' or bed plate, to prevent circular movement of the bobbin-case during the operation "of the looper. The bobbin is indicated in dotted llnes at 28. V

The lubricating device consists of the well 29 in the spindle 18, the bottom of which well is shown as conical at 30, and from the bottom thereof the groove-31, is extended to the edge of the flange 15). The bottom of the bobbin-case and the attached plate 22 com plete and form the conduit 31, for the purpose of leading the lubricant from the well 29, to the race 32, in which the flange 16 of the looper runs. It will be noted that the plate .22 forms a close and tight connection at the bottom of the race while the top of the conduit adjacent the race does not lit the flange 16 closely, as shown at 33, Fig. 2. This prevents the oil from leaking at the bottom andenables the flange 10 to be properly lubri- Gated.

Preferably, l locate in the conduit 3], a wick 34, which extends l'rom the race 32, to the Well 2!), and which will absorb the lubricant and conduct the same from the well to the race. in the well I provide a means to prevent the lubricant from overflowing or to prevent dust or other particles getting into the well. For this purpose I may provide a packing 35, which will not only absorb and retain the lubricant in the well, but will also act as a filter and prevent l'oreign matter reaching the wick 34, this construction being shown in Fig. 2. ()r, I may provide a valve as shown in Fig. 5, the same consisting of the screw-threaded and flanged-cap 36, which is provided with a suitably shaped central aperture37, and which screws into the upper end of the spindle 18, which. is provided with screw-threads for the purpose. Within the well 29, a coiled expansion spring 38 is located, the same resting at its lower end upon the bottom oi the well and supporting at its upper end. a ball 39, which accurately fits in a seat in the cap 36. This produces an automatically closing ball valve; and oil may be inserted in the well 29, by depressing the ball 30, with the nozzle of the oiler, and when sufficient lubricant has been placed in the well the ball will automatically close the aperture 37, thus preventing foreign substances getting into the lubricant or well.

' From the above exposition of my invention it will be seen that I have provided a simple and efiective means for lubricating the race between the looper and the bobbincase. By utilizing the spindle or bobbin sup ortinglpost for the well, I am enabled to 'ispose the lubricating device in such manner that the same will have no move-.

ment which will produce the objections above set forth caused by throwing or scatteringthe lubricant; and by placing the lubricating device in the bobbin-case or holder and leading the lubricant directly out 'between the bobbin-case and the looper, only such parts as are directly in contact to form closes thegroove detachable, it will be seen that the Wick located in the conduit can be of sufficient size so that when the plate 22 is set in place the wick will be s ueezed and by this' means the supply of In ricant to the race may be.-regulated so that only the reuired or desired amount of oil will flow to t -e race. Moreover, by locating the well 29 in the bobbing supporting spindle or post, it

will be seen that uite a large supply of lubricant can .be had which will last avery long time. However, by centralizing the oil well as in my construction, I find that a very small quantity of oil will keep the race well lubricated for several days.

In practice I fill the well with a sponge or ipiece of Waste which serves as ameans for ltering the oil and for preventing any dirt from gettin into the race, and I provide a wick of sufi'icient length and size to enable substantial compression thereof to be made when the cap isapplied to thereby regulate l the amount of oil supplied to the race.

The central location of the well makes it very convenient for the insertion'of oil and when the bobbin-case is disposed in a horizontal plane as illustrated in my construction it is desirable to close the opening in the well as described.

It will be obvious that the looper mechanism may be arranged in other than a horizontal plane and when arranged to operate in a vertical plane it will be understood that the device'shown in Fig. 5 will be desirable to close the inlet to the oil well; The ball-valve 'inechanism' shown is a simple and effective means for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 'ent is;

1. A looper mechanism comprising a looper having an internal flange, a bobbinsaid flange, a lubricating device carried by the bobbin-case including a conduit for conveying the lubricant to the race, said conduit being formedby and between the said parts of the bobbin-case.

2. A looper mechanism comprising a circularly moving looper, a bobbin-case, held .fro'm'circular movement, means forming a race between the looperand the bobbin-case,

an oil well located centrally of the bobbincase and means for conveying the oil from the well to the race.

3. Alooper mechanism comprising alooper and a bobbin-case, means between the two 'for producing a race, a lubricating device carried by one of the parts, and means for regulating the amount of flow of the lubricant to the race including a portion of the race forming means.

A} A looper mechanism for sewing machines comprising a looper and a bobbin-case; means between the two producing a race; a stationary device for lubricating the race, including a well for holding the lubricant; and means for closing the well to prevent foreign substances from reaching said race through said device.

51A looper mechanism comprising a looper, a bobbin-case, means forming a race between the looper and the bobbin-case, and a lubricating device, cooperating'with said race, having means for constantly and automatically leading a lubricant to the race while the looper is in and out of motion.

6. A looper mechanism .comprising a looper, a bobbin-case, means forming a race between the looper and bobbin-case, an automatic lubricatingdevice for constantly.lead ing alubricant to the race while the looper is in and out of motion, and means for regulating the flow of the lubricant.

' 7. 'A looper mechanism comprising a looper, a bobbin-case, means forming a race between the looper and the bobbin-case, an

automatic lubricating device for leading a lubricant'to the race, and means for regulating and maintaining the constant flow of the lubricant to the race while the looper is in and out of operation.

8. A looper mechanism comprising a looper, a bobbin-case, means forming a race between the looper and the bobbin-case, and a lubric'atingjdevicc carried by the bobbincase having a-disposition such that the lubricant is applied constantly to the race while the looper is in and out of operation.

9. A looper mechanism comprising a looper working on a vertical axis, a bobbincase, means forming a race between the looper and bobbirncase and supporting the latter in a horizontal plane, and a lubricating device carried by the bobbin-case and having a disposition such that by gravity the lubricant will be conveyed to the race.

, 10. A looper mechan sm comprising a looper, a bobbin-case means forming a race between the looper and "bobbin-case; and a stationary lubricating device, connecting with said race, having means whereby it may constantly supply said race with lubricant while the looper is'in and out of operation.

* 11. A 100 er mechanism comprising a looper, a bob ln-case', means formlng a race between the looper and the bobbin-case, an

"oil-well carried by, the bobbin-case, and

cularly moving loopcr, a bobbin-case, held I from circular movement, means forming a race between the loo er and the bobbin- 15 case, an oil-well carrie by the bobbin-case,

and means for conveying the oil from the well to the race.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two sub- 20 scribing witnesses.

WILLIAM N. PARKES.

' Witnesses CHAs. McC. CHAP AN, M. HERSKOVITZ. 

